Tax

Although tax liability can be significant, it can be limited substantially through the careful structuring of entities, business transactions, and employee-benefit arrangements.

Combining a nuanced understanding of complex and ever-changing tax laws with creativity, Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK) Tax attorneys provide pragmatic advice to clients to help structure their businesses, compensation arrangements, benefit programs, and transactions to limit their tax exposure and avoid tax disputes. BBK Tax attorneys represent individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and public agencies regarding tax-related issues in courts at all levels, before the IRS and other regulatory authorities, and at the negotiating table.

Tax Transactions and Consulting
BBK Tax attorneys analyze, structure and implement numerous business formations, transactions, combinations, liquidations, and financing arrangements. 

We provide tax counsel on business entity formation and incorporation, corporation-shareholder transactions, debt and equity financings, employee stock option plans, retirement benefits and other compensation arrangements, and business reorganizations, as well as alternatives to entity liquidation and dissolution.

Tax Litigation and Controversy
Our Tax attorneys have decades of experience resolving tax challenges with a primary focus on employment taxes affecting compensation and benefit arrangements.

We regularly handle payroll tax audits of both private employers and public agencies, and tax-exempt employee benefits and retirement plans and arrangements (including appeals of adverse IRS and ERISA determinations). We approach audits in a cooperative, rather than confrontational, manner when dealing with taxing authorities. As a result, BBK has developed a favorable reputation with field auditors, giving us an advantage in successfully resolving issues for our clients.

BBK attorneys have represented clients before virtually every federal and California tax authority — the IRS, the Franchise Tax Board, the Board of Equalization, the Employment Development Department, and the County Assessor’s office — from initial audit through final appeal. 

Tax-Exempt Nonprofit Organizations
BBK Tax attorneys advise on all aspects of the organization and operation of nonprofit corporations and tax-exempt organizations. Well-versed in the corporate, tax, and government laws affecting nonprofit organizations, we assist with organizational documents and tax-exempt applications, ensuring compliance with corporation and tax codes (and governing laws for public clients). We also counsel clients on statutory and regulatory compliance matters, satisfying public support tests, minimizing unrelated business taxable-income activities, avoiding conflicts of interest, and discharging fiduciary obligations.